Be More Human Archives

Living with Care: Pat’s Journey Outside Institutions (3:57)

Living with Care: Pat’s Journey Outside Institutions

David talks about why live‑in care has been so good for Pat. Having the same carers for a long time means they feel like part of the family, which is very different from the more impersonal feel of a care home. At home, Pat’s life still feels normal, and she can stay connected to the people who visit her — something that often gets lost in care homes.

David also describes visiting care homes and noticing how little staff often know about the amazing lives residents have lived.

He ends by celebrating Pat’s life: her success as a children’s author, the honorary degree she received from Bath University, and the sadness that her illness now prevents her from knowing how much her work still matters.

Wearing a Groove in Norwich – The Importance of Care Closer to Home (3:02)

Wearing a Groove in Norwich – The Importance of Care Closer to Home

David talks about what life has been like caring for Pat since she was diagnosed with a rare condition called PCA back in 2007. At the time, hardly anyone – including their GP – had heard of it, though it’s now recognised as a form of Alzheimer’s.

He explains how they moved to Norwich to make everyday life easier, with shops and services close enough for him to manage things more smoothly.

Over the years, people in the area got to know them as they worked through the ups and downs of Pat’s illness.

Carers poor pay and working conditions (2:32)

Carers poor pay and working conditions, as observed by Jac and Baz. Put people before profit

Jac and Baz highlight carers should be valued much more than they are. They note cares get poor pay, they are stretched and working conditions unfair. They give examples of staff not getting paid if an appointment is cancelled last minute and the travel difficulties staff have. Jac and Baz emphasise that carers should be valued much much more by the pay structure and how society views them.

Jac and Baz highlight that if carer were valued more through better pay, treated with respect and looked after more by the companies they work for they would be much happier and look forward to going to work. Baz notes that companies put too much value on profit and should think more about eh people they are looking after.

Everyone deserves to be understood (trigger warning – suicide) (7:52)

Everyone deserves to be understood (trigger warning – suicide)

Jack shares the story of a friend who didnt recieve the support they needed. How those working in the system should reframe to what they can do to support people could make such a huge difference.

Jack describes it as feeeling like those working in care do the bare minimum because that is all they feel they can give.

“Everyone deserves to be understood, everyone deserves to be validated in some shape or form, and everyone deserves the time and the respect to be able to approach things, or have conversations about things or express things in ways that are natural to them, but I don’t think thats the way our support systems run” Jack highlights the lack of awareness about what effective support looks like from the system perspective.

Empowering Care Plans (1:59)

Empowering Care Plans

Christopher highlights the potential of the Real Care Deal emphasing its broader application which could be wider than Norfolk amplifying examples of good practice and care countrywide. Chris continues to talk about the importance of the individuals true ownership of their care plan with examples of what this mean so that they can lead their care process.

This includes having the freedom to request reviews and making personal decisions, even if there’s a potential for risk, by mitigating dangers rather than completely eliminating them. Equally Chris highlights the importance sometimes difficult, but honest conversations with people about their care and support, ensuring that people still have agency to decide for themselves.

A day in the life of Kyle aka Speedy (6:24)

A day in the life of Kyle aka Speedy.

Following Kyle as he navigates around his home town and hearing various insights of some of the struggles he encounters along with his hobbies and passion for wheelchair Rugby.

Interview with Norfolk County Council’s principle in charge Ian Wake (13:31)

Interview with Norfolk County Council’s principle in charge Ian Wake

Here is a recent conversation with Norfolk County Council’s Director in charge of adult social care. We find out his vision and determination to centre in the human experience and how we work together as humans.

“I like it here cause people call me by my name” (3:00)

I like it here cause people call me by my name

Zena and Angela share what ‘being more human’ means to them and how this translates in their work. To them it means being non judgemental, understanding, empathetic and the behaviours that convey this. They don’t expect people to fill out lots of paperwork or disclose their background, they take them on face value.

They highlight that the experience of homelessness is often a life without value and talk about how Under One Roof is about creating value and purpose through human contact, community and opportunity to contribute. It can be as simple as calling someone by their name, treating people with kindness and recognising people have the right to choose what they want to do rather than what you want them to do.

Positive experiences of care that make Jac and Baz feel human again. (4:31)

Positive experiences of care that make Jac and Baz feel human again.

Jac talks about how staying at Meadow House changed everything for her. In other places she’d felt ignored, rushed, and treated like a body to be managed rather than a person. Even simple things like her vegetarian diet or having a cup of tea within reach were overlooked. At Meadow House, staff explained what they were doing instead of just doing it to her, checked in, said hello, and treated her with real warmth.

It helped her feel human again. She could smile and laugh, and the difference felt like moving from dark clouds into sunlight. Baz saw it too: seeing his wife happy, respected, and herself again brought him huge relief. After years of depression and cold, apathetic care, both of them felt the impact of finally being treated with dignity and humanity.

Sleeping without fear (5:09)

Sleeping without fear

Empathy enables trust to grow. Seeing peoples experience of homelessnes through a perspective of truama Zena and Angela talk about working without judgment., They recognise how overwhelming it is for people living homeless to suddenly have the things we take for granted such as food, a room, running water, warmth or something as basic as an ensuite.

Alcohol dependency prevents many residents getting into other places creating a cycle of isolation and a world where you can’t enter anywhere. Highwater House allows alcohol use and in doing so provides sanctuary and the safety to sleep without fear.